Summer is right around the corner and that means you’ll likely be spending more time on patios and at backyard barbecues. Not that you’d really need either of those excuses to get a drink, but it could mean more alcohol in your future. How do you avoid packing on the pounds, though? You could consume one of these healthy alcoholic drinks for women, but what about more manly alternatives?

The good news is that there are plenty of manly drinks that won’t have you moving your belt over to the next notch. Yes, you just may be able to save yourself from that unsightly beer belly, though it could mean that you should avoid “having yet another brewsky” with the boys. They do call it a beer belly for a reason and, let’s be honest, it’s not exactly flattering when you’re trying to hit on the girls at the beach.

So, what are some healthy alcoholic drinks for us alcohol-enjoying gents? How do we get the buzz without the gut?

Wine: White or Red

Red Wine (QuinnDombrowski / Flickr)

Of all the alcohol on the shelf, one of the best options is to go to the cellar. Offering the least number of calories on a per-ounce basis, wine is great with your health-conscious dinner. In fact, most wines are only 20 calories per ounce and they have no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol.

Wine has also been demonstrated to have some healthful benefits in moderation. Red wine is an antioxidant, protecting your body from cancer. It’s also good for protecting you from heart disease. White wine has fewer carbs (2g) than red wine (4g) per 5-ounce serving, so you’ll get good stuff either way.

Liquor on the Rocks

A man’s man doesn’t need a mixer and, if you’re staying on the healthier side of things, skipping the mixer altogether is really the way to go. Most of the calories that you find in cocktails are coming from the soft drink, the juice, and the sugar-laden syrups used to mask the taste of the alcohol. But you’re a man and you want a manly drink. Ditch the mixer.

Jack Daniel's Whiskey

It’s up to you if you want your drink neat or on the rocks, but drinking it straight is how you can cut those calories and the sugar intake. For instance, a double Scotch whiskey on the rocks will put you at just under 140 calories with zero carbs. Purists will say skip the ice.

Vodka and Soda with Lime

Vodka and Soda with Lime (Baileyaros.blogspot.com)

Maybe you want something lighter than shots of hard liquor. One of the best healthy alcoholic drinks is to mix your liquor of choice with club soda or sparkling water, squirting some lime juice for flavor. Have the whole thing on ice and be a happy boy.

I personally prefer doing this with vodka, but you could just as easily use gin, whisky, or whatever else you want, so long as it’s not some sugary liqueur. It should be noted that tequila has signifantly more carbs (5.3g per ounce) than most other liquors. Gin and white rum, for example, have zero carbs.

Whisky and Green Tea

Whiskey and Green Tea (PeckTheBeak.com)

If you’re looking for a warm drink in the evenings, this really hits the spot. The whisky doesn’t have much in terms of calories and the green tea comes with all sorts of additional health benefits, like boosting your immune system and lowering cholesterol levels. If you prefer other teas, like Earl Grey, that’s not a bad choice either.

Healthy Alcoholic Drinks Include Beer?

Yes, beer isn’t the healthiest choice, relative to straight hard liquor or a glass of wine, but you can still make some relatively healthier choices within this realm. Light beers are typically the least offensive with the fewest calories and carbohydrates. Lagers are generally better than ales in both respects too. In general, having fuller body and fuller flavor is usually associated with having more carbs and more calories.

Beer Calories and Carbs

Check out this useful chart to find your favorite brand of beer. For instance, whereas Michelob Ultra has only 95 calories and 2.6g of carbs, Michelob Amber Boch has 166 calories and 15g of carbs. That’s a pretty huge difference.

As with all your other alcohol-related decisions, try to be wise about which drinks you order too.

A freelance writer and professional blogger based out of Vancouver, Canada, Michael Kwan focuses primarily in the areas of consumer electronics, entrepreneurship, and personal development. He blogs six times a week at Beyond the Rhetoric. Follow him on Twitter: @michaelkwan